‘Concerning’: Anderson Bridge in Oakland plagued by ‘poor’ ratings for nearly a decade

Soaring high above Junction Hollow, the Charles Anderson Bridge ferries more than 20,000 vehicles between Oakland and Schenley Park every day. The historic bridge, which spans nearly 800 feet along the Boulevard of the Allies, has been a major artery for travel since it was built in 1938.

But as recently as 2018, inspectors deemed the bridge “structurally deficient.” It is among Pittsburgh’s most dilapidated bridges, receiving “poor” ratings in the National Bridge Inventory, a federal database, since 2012. As Pittsburgh politicians debate infrastructure spending, preliminary planning is underway to rehabilitate the bridge, with construction anticipated to begin in 2025.

Kent Harries, a professor of civil engineering at Pitt, said the bridge’s poor condition is “concerning,” but not “terribly surprising.”

“We’ve got an old structure that really hasn’t received the maintenance that it needs,” Harries said. “It is just one of many neglected structures in the City, the county, the state, the country.”

Despite Harries’ concerns, he believes the bridge “doesn’t pose an immediate threat” to people’s safety.

State records show Allegheny County is home to 175 bridges rated in “poor” condition, a fact thrust into the national spotlight when the Fern Hollow Bridge in Frick Park collapsed last Friday, injuring 10 people and stranding seven vehicles. The collapse occurred hours before President Joe Biden arrived in Pittsburgh to tout his $1.2 trillion infrastructure package, and brought new attention to the Steel City’s now 445 bridges that span rivers, highways and valleys.

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